Oil Consumption
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2008
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Oil Consumption
I have a 97 Expedition with 132k. I change my oil regularly with synthetic oil. I cant even make my 4000 mile interval without haveing to put another quart in. Where's the oil going? Truck does not smoke and I dont drive it hard(im old)
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: New Hampshire
It seems that many have this issue and they also dont understand where its going. I have 172K on my 98 Expedition 4.6 and the same 6 quarts that goes in is the same that comes out. For some, it may be a blow by issue from the rings not being in the right place. This could be small enough to where you wouldnt see any signs in the exhaust.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24,316
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From: 0,0,1
Doing many short drives burns more oil than doing less longer drives. This is because more oil is burnt when the engine is cold started due to a larger piston to cylinder wall gap.
Trailering
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15
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Some vehicles use a little oil and some don't. My 2003 EB Expy has always used a quart every 3,000 miles. It now has 111,000 miles on it. Most mechanics will tell you this is normal. The only time you have to worry is when your burning a quart every 1000 or less miles. I changed to synthetic and went to 5W30 instead of the recommended 5W20 synthetic. 5W20 synth is really thin. My 1999 Expy also used a little oil.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
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From: Detroit
I started driving in 1970 and it used to be pretty good when I had a car which needed a quart added every 1000 miles.
In the mid-80's, we bought a new Escort GT that would go over 3k miles on a quart (which was amazingly low at the time), and my wife's '98 Sable used maybe a quart every 3k as long as we owned it (bought at 27k, sold well over 100k).
My E150 with 4.6 (at 91k miles) will maybe use a quart in 6-7k miles and seems to actually use a little LESS with synthetic oil than with the syn blend. I remember that it seemed to use a quart in about 3-4k miles when it was a young vehicle.
I consider 3k miles to a quart of oil use a very tight motor. Just don't go 5k miles without checking the oil level....
George
Another trick is to fill with 6 or 7 quarts, whatever the rated capacity of your engine is (my van is 6) which puts the level in the middle of the full and "add one quart" marks. I remember that the word from Ford engineering was that the mod motors will consume a little less oil if you don't top it off at the stick full mark.
George
In the mid-80's, we bought a new Escort GT that would go over 3k miles on a quart (which was amazingly low at the time), and my wife's '98 Sable used maybe a quart every 3k as long as we owned it (bought at 27k, sold well over 100k).
My E150 with 4.6 (at 91k miles) will maybe use a quart in 6-7k miles and seems to actually use a little LESS with synthetic oil than with the syn blend. I remember that it seemed to use a quart in about 3-4k miles when it was a young vehicle.
I consider 3k miles to a quart of oil use a very tight motor. Just don't go 5k miles without checking the oil level....
George
Another trick is to fill with 6 or 7 quarts, whatever the rated capacity of your engine is (my van is 6) which puts the level in the middle of the full and "add one quart" marks. I remember that the word from Ford engineering was that the mod motors will consume a little less oil if you don't top it off at the stick full mark.
George
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Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: New Hampshire
Another trick is to fill with 6 or 7 quarts, whatever the rated capacity of your engine is (my van is 6) which puts the level in the middle of the full and "add one quart" marks. I remember that the word from Ford engineering was that the mod motors will consume a little less oil if you don't top it off at the stick full mark.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
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From: Detroit
If you put in the amount of oil that any engine calls for, it will be full, I am not understanding this being a trick for the word you heard from a ford engineer is complete BS. I am shocked that someone can call them an engineer and make a statement like this. I have a 4.6 in my 98 expedition and the same 6 quarts that I put in is the same that comes out.
It takes an extra half quart to put it all the way to the "full" mark on the stick and for my whole driving life, I have always "topped off" vehicles like this, with the assumption that I have a bit more "safety margin" with an engine that leaks or burns a bit of oil. The rule has always been to fill the engine with oil until it reads "full" on the dipstick. This seems NOT to be the case with mod motors.
Seems like my 4.6 will burn off that "extra" half quart more rapidly than it would burn off a half quart if I start with 6 quarts exactly.
I have no idea what you are finding to be "BS" in what I said or what you are "shocked" by; calm down, my friend
George
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 317
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From: Omaha, Nebraska USA
I agree. My 5.4 will burn off that extra half quart if I put it in faster that the second half. The book says 6 quarts not 6 1/2 quarts. I am thinking that the full mark on the stick is a max level, do not fill beyond this level. I don't know about BS but here in Nebraska we have a lot of CS. So which would you suggest we go with the book or the line on the stick.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
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From: Detroit
I agree. My 5.4 will burn off that extra half quart if I put it in faster that the second half. The book says 6 quarts not 6 1/2 quarts. I am thinking that the full mark on the stick is a max level, do not fill beyond this level. I don't know about BS but here in Nebraska we have a lot of CS. So which would you suggest we go with the book or the line on the stick.
And before a long road trip in my van, I do tend to put in just a bit more oil (not above the full mark) figuring that I'll have just a bit more "safety margin" if the engine develops a little oil leak or something, and I won't have to pay an inflated price if I do need to add a quart on the road. (Although on a long road trip I'll carry an extra quart of my own brand anyway.) Plus I'd expect the oil to be just a degree or two cooler with a bit more in the engine.
No big deal; these mod motors are really tight in my experience.
George
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Central NYS
Thanks again for that little tid-bit!
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
That is simply not true sir. I've been using Mobil1 extended mileage synthetic oil for years and have never had to replace any oil except when changing the oil filter mid change cycle. I've used this oil in a 3.8L, 2.0L 3.0L and two 4.6's and never had any issues.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 420
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From: New Hampshire
I do not understand what you are saying. My 4.6, with 6 quarts, will show a level halfway between the "full" and "add" marks on the stick.
It takes an extra half quart to put it all the way to the "full" mark on the stick and for my whole driving life, I have always "topped off" vehicles like this, with the assumption that I have a bit more "safety margin" with an engine that leaks or burns a bit of oil. The rule has always been to fill the engine with oil until it reads "full" on the dipstick. This seems NOT to be the case with mod motors.
Seems like my 4.6 will burn off that "extra" half quart more rapidly than it would burn off a half quart if I start with 6 quarts exactly.
I have no idea what you are finding to be "BS" in what I said or what you are "shocked" by; calm down, my friend
George
It takes an extra half quart to put it all the way to the "full" mark on the stick and for my whole driving life, I have always "topped off" vehicles like this, with the assumption that I have a bit more "safety margin" with an engine that leaks or burns a bit of oil. The rule has always been to fill the engine with oil until it reads "full" on the dipstick. This seems NOT to be the case with mod motors.
Seems like my 4.6 will burn off that "extra" half quart more rapidly than it would burn off a half quart if I start with 6 quarts exactly.
I have no idea what you are finding to be "BS" in what I said or what you are "shocked" by; calm down, my friend
George
